Cosmetic Surgery and Teens: Is It a Good Idea?

Are you the parent of a teenager who has recently decided that they would like to undergo cosmetic surgery? If so, you may be feeling a wide array of emotions right now. Although most parents in your shoes wouldn’t even entertain the thought, you may be interested in doing so. You may be curious as to whether or not cosmetic surgery and teens go together.

As for whether or not cosmetic surgery is advised for teenagers, it will all depend. All teenagers are not the same. Cosmetic surgery procedures are performed for a wide range of reasons. To help you determine if your teenager is ready for cosmetic surgery, there are a number of factors that you will first want to take into consideration.

For starters, it is important to examine your child’s health. Is your child’s health at risk if they do not undergo cosmetic surgery? For example, is your child seriously obese? If so, gastric bypass surgery or other weight loss surgeries may be needed. Of course, as a parent, you owe it to your child to help them explore other options. You and your teenager may first want to try more natural ways of losing weight, such as eating healthy and exercising regularly.

Since most cosmetic surgery procedures are performed with the sole purpose of improving appearance, you may not understand why your teenager needs treatment. Be sure to talk to your child about their reasoning. Are they being harassed at school? Does your child have a skin growth or unwanted body hair that is resulting in them getting teased at school? If so, you may want to inquire about cosmetic surgery. It is important to know the impact that constant harassment and heckling can have on a teenager’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Before getting your child’s heart set on cosmetic surgery, if you do voice your approval, you will first want to make sure that your child is even a good candidate. Do you know that some cosmetic surgeons will not perform surgical procedures on those under the age of 18? Others do have restrictions, but may be a little bit more lax with them. For example, ideal candidates for liposuction are over the age of 18. This is often due in part to the maturity levels.

Speaking of maturity, is your child mature enough to make a well-informed decision about cosmetic surgery? Most teenagers aren’t. Many just know that they want to look beautiful, no matter what the costs. Can your child handle those costs though? If your child is thinking about cosmetic surgery just to improve their beauty, it may be a wise idea to let them make their own decision when they turn 18.

Another reason why not all teenagers are ideal candidates for cosmetic surgery is because of the recovery process. If breast reduction is performed, your child will need to get the proper amount of rest. They may also face certain restrictions, such as no heavy lifting or no wearing a bra for a week. Will your teenager be able to follow their post surgery directions right down to the letter? If not, they may end up hurting their health and the results of their surgery.

As a reminder, many cosmetic surgeons in the United States have restrictions and rules set for cosmetic surgery and minors. If you do opt for cosmetic surgery for your teen, schedule a consultation appointment with them to see if they are an ideal candidate.